Hartendorp Mijke O, Van der Stigchel Stefan, Hooge Ignace, Mostert Jeanette, de Boer Tanja, Postma Albert
Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
J Vis. 2013 May 14;13(6):6. doi: 10.1167/13.6.6.
When categorizing an object, we fixate our eyes on informative parts of that object. In the current study, morphed figures were used to investigate whether the interpretation of such unclear objects is reflected in the eye movement pattern. The morphed figures were created by interpolating two concrete objects. The intermediate steps represent figures that contain properties of both objects but in different proportions. Three experiments were conducted to investigate the relation between categorization and gaze behavior. In all three experiments, free-naming responses and eye movements were recorded simultaneously. In the first experiment, the relation between the interpretation and the fixated part of the figure was investigated: A strong relation was observed. Subsequently, it was investigated whether gaze patterns drive categorization or vice versa. In the second experiment, morphed figures were preceded by a prime word. A priming effect on categorization was found but not on gaze behavior. In the third experiment, a cue directed the observer's gaze to a particular location on the morphed figure. Interestingly, the cueing experiment showed a cueing effect not only on gaze behavior but also on categorization. Taken together, these findings suggest that where we look affects how we interpret a perceptually uncertain stimulus.
在对一个物体进行分类时，我们会将目光聚焦在该物体的信息性部分上。在当前的研究中，使用变形图形来探究对这类不清晰物体的解读是否反映在眼动模式中。变形图形是通过对两个具体物体进行插值创建的。中间步骤呈现的图形包含两个物体的属性，但比例不同。进行了三个实验来研究分类与注视行为之间的关系。在所有三个实验中，同时记录自由命名反应和眼动情况。在第一个实验中，研究了对图形的解读与注视部分之间的关系：观察到了很强的相关性。随后，研究了注视模式是驱动分类还是相反。在第二个实验中，在变形图形之前呈现一个启动词。发现了对分类的启动效应，但对注视行为没有影响。在第三个实验中，一个提示将观察者的目光引导到变形图形上的特定位置。有趣的是，提示实验不仅显示了对注视行为的提示效应，还显示了对分类的提示效应。综上所述，这些发现表明我们注视的位置会影响我们如何解读一个感知上不确定的刺激。
